Run by Dr Ella Rachamim, Paediatrician and Mother of three (including twins).

Helpful Resources and Reading Material

Useful resources

Cry-sis offers support for families with excessively crying, sleepless and demanding babies.It runs a national telephone helpline that is available to callers every day of the year between 9.00am and 10.00pm. Callers are referred to a trained volunteer member of Cry-sis who has had personal experience of crying or sleep problems within their own family. Tel: 08451 228 669.

Fathers reaching out and dad.info provide support for fathers – after all fathers also can get postnatal depression and also suffer greatly if their parners have PND. A father whose wife had PND has set up his own website and support for fathers, I have been able to talk to him and he is passionate about information for families,

allergyfamilies.com with Dr Vivian Chen

Vivian has 14 years of experience as a doctor in the UK. She trained in internal medicine and dermatology in London before moving into Family Practice so that she can combine work with caring for her kids.

She has two kids with severe food allergies. Through her kids, she has a developed a special interest in allergy and nutrition. She strongly believes that food “is” medicine, and is passionate about healing the body through nutrition. She has a holistic approach that involves natural remedies, nutrition, in combination with western scientific medicine. Her blog shares her knowledge and experience.

Motherisk

Trampolines

Trampolines can be both enjoyable and safe however there are over 100,000 trampoline injuries each year in the US alone. As a responsible review website, we’ve put together a guide which covers all aspects of trampoline safety. Here’s the link

The Essential Baby Care Guide

4 DVD Complete Guide demonstrates everything you need to know to look after your baby in their vital first 12 months. The guide is comprehensive and covers Sleep, First Aid & Accident Prevention, Feeding and Care & Development over the 4 DVDs. I am in regular contact with Diana Hill, co-creator of The Essential Parent company, and share her passion for preparing and empowering parents. The DVDs are well-researched, informative and evidence based. The professionals that are used, including Professor Winston who narrates them, are top experts in their field. Type in the code “bereadytoparent” at the online basket for a reduced price.

Best Beginnings

This website was set up by a mother to radically improve the health of all babies across the UK. It is full of easy to read, practical information on pregnancy, birth and parenthood and has some fantastic DVDs on breastfeeding (which your midwife may have copies of and can give to you or you can buy online) and more.

Family Lives

Formerly known as parentline plus, Family Lives is the UK’s largest parenting charity and runs a 24 hour free phoneline 7 days a week providing help and support for all aspects of family life 0808 800 2222.

The Couple Connection

An online ‘do it yourself’ relationship support service, helping parents to work on their relationships themselves. The site provides a wide range of articles, self-assessment tools, activities, quizzes and exercises to help couples and parents improve and strengthen their relationship.

The Parent Connection

The Parent Connection is a free online service developed by relationships charity OnePlusOne to help separating and separated parents with a range of issues. Developed with mediators and family lawyers, it helps parents manage emotions better and gives them the skills and practical tools needed to create successful care arrangements after separation.

Toddler Eating and Support

Free reading material from the Department of Health:

“The Pregnancy Book” a publication by the Department of Health. The book details all aspects of maternity care, provides in-depth support, useful contact information and advice on rights and benefits. The Pregnancy Book is a complete guide to a healthy pregnancy, labour and childbirth and the first weeks with a new baby.

“Birth to Five” is also produced by the DoH. The book gives parents information on becoming a parent, taking care of yourself and your child and finding practical help and support. It also introduces the Healthy Child Programme for the first years of life, and explains issues like immunisation, development, behaviour and feeding. It should provide an additional resource to the advice from your midwife and health visitor.

These are now both available online from the DoH, but no longer available in print.

Other Books

The following books are written by paediatric consultants, who work in North London and I have personally worked with. Both books are well written and informative.